PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has finally come up with a clearer stance by announcing support for negotiations with the Taliban and asking the government to initiate the process without wasting time for the sake of much-needed peace and national reconciliation.

The president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is one of the three possible guarantors named by the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been engaged in a war of attrition against country’s armed and law enforcement agencies for last many years and is responsible for most of the terrorism the nation has suffered.

Nawaz rued on Thursday that the track record of the federal government is not such that anyone can stand guarantee for it, but his party and he himself back talks with the militant organisation for the sake of peace which is dire need of the time.

The leader of the party, which is main opposition at Centre and rules the most populous province of Punjab, said they wanted the government to immediately embark upon the process of serious, meaningful, purposeful and result-oriented talks with the Taliban. While repelling the acts which foster antipathy between the two sides, Nawaz said that in the game of blood and bombs, only hatred takes place.

The PML-N chief said that war and the use of force is no solution to any problem and Pakistan has already paid a heavy price and is still doing so. As such the government must take the Taliban offer of talks seriously in the interest of achieving peace.

Nawaz Sharif said his party and he have always taken the stand of finding solution to the issues through negotiations. He mentioned two resolutions carried by the Parliament in October 2010 and in May 2011, and said the unanimously carried resolutions by the joint session of the Parliament also stressed on taking solid steps for setting things right and for peaceful solution to the issues.

He said the whole nation wants peace as without peace no progress and prosperity is possible. As such, he said, all stakeholders must hold negotiations with open mind and sincerity for the sake of protecting interest of Pakistan and delivering peace to the people.

In a video message last week TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan had made a peace offer to the government with two pre-conditions. First, that Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rahman and Jamaat Islami (JI) head Syed Munawar Hasssan be the guarantors to the agreement reaching consequent to the talks with the government. Second, three frontline leaders of the TTP should be released by the government so they could lead the militants’ negotiating team.

The Taliban also expressed lack of trust in the army, which they termed the ‘real force’ in the country, claiming that previously three main peace agreements reached during the Musharraf government were violated.

A formal government response to this TTP offer is still awaited, though it gave a cold shoulder to a similar offer by the militants made some two months ago and set lying down of the arms as a precondition for the talks.

The government has been taking this ‘principled’ stance throughout the history of this conflict, but the situation has drastically changed after Pakistan and Afghanistan – through the good offices of the UK and approval of the US – have recently agreed to give peace to Afghanistan in six months wherein talks with the Afghan Taliban has been set as cardinal means.

As to the fresh offer of the TTP, JUI-F has yet to come up with a formal stance thought its chief has supported the talks. The JI has also supported negotiations for restoration of peace. And, now this statement of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, prodding the government to accept the TTP offer and enter into serious and result oriented talks with the banned outfit, is by all means bound to carry huge effect.

Nawaz had learned about the TTP offer while he was in Saudi Arabia where in his immediate reaction he passed cautious comments on becoming guarantor citing his bitter experience with the PPP leadership which he said had a long series of broken promises.

Later, while talking to media before leaving for home at Jaddah, he also stated he was not public functionary who can stand guarantee to any agreement. However, his Thursday’s statement is quite loud and clear and holds much in the store.